Pulis bemoans leaks after dressing room bust-up

STOKE manager Tony Pulis has revealed his frustration after details of a dressing room bust-up between Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan and Abdoulaye Faye were leaked to the press.

The Potters duo were reported to have been involved in an altercation during and after Sunday’s 7-0 hammering by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Whelan is believed to have been angered by Faye’s attitude prior to kick-off when the Senegalese took part in a warm-up drill wearing flip-flops.

Faye was subsequently substituted through injury after just nine minutes and an argument took place at half-time after Whelan criticised Faye’s lack of professionalism.

The argument flared up again at the final whistle when Whelan reiterated his criticism of Faye who responded by, in the words of a club source, “belting him in the face’’.

Pulis, who is no stranger to dressing room controversy himself after a reported clash with striker James Beattie at Arsenal in December, admitted he was angry that details of an in-house dispute have again been leaked.

“I maintain that what happens in the dressing room stays in the dressing room,’’ Pulis told the club’s official website.

“Both Glenn Whelan and Abdoulaye Faye are disappointed that again the confines of our sanctuary have been breached.

“The lads have also expressed their own disappointment, but understand that there are obviously one or two people who, for their own reasons, feel it necessary to leak out this information.

“Irrespective of these individuals, we are desperate to get back on the pitch, and put in a performance that truly shows our achievements this season in the right light.

“The game against Everton is already sold out, so we have a great opportunity to show everybody outside Stoke-On-Trent that the dressing room, the terraces and the boardroom are united in their aims to help this great club in its quest to keep moving onwards and upwards.”

Meanwhile former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Carr has been charged with improper conduct by the FA for allegedly making an offensive gesture during Birmingham City’s controversial derby defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend.

The Birmingham defender has requested a personal hearing of his case.

West Midlands Police are also expected to question Carr over the incident in which he is alleged to have made a gesture to Aston Villa’s supporters.

Birmingham have been charged with failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion after referee Martin Atkinson was surrounded following his decision to award a contentious penalty.

Birmingham defender Roger Johnson, who was penalised for Atkinson to concede the spot-kick that led to Villa winning 1-0, has also been asked to explain his comments to the media in which he attacked the official.